December 20, 1973

The Daily Diary files represent a consolidated record of the President's activities. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• Original typewritten diary (PDF)

The President's day began at The White House - Washington, D. C.

The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents made available transcripts of the President's news conferences; messages to Congress; public speeches, remarks, and statements; and other Presidential materials released by the White House.

Digitized versions can be found at HathiTrust.

Each Public Papers of the Presidents volume contains the papers and speeches of the President of the United States that were issued by the White House Office of the Press Secretary during the time period specified by the volume. The material is presented in chronological order, and the dates shown in the headings are the dates of the documents or events. In instances when the release date differs from the date of the document itself, that fact is shown in the text note.

To ensure accuracy, remarks have been checked against audio recordings (when available) and signed documents have been checked against the original, unless otherwise noted. Editors have provided text notes and cross references for purposes of identification or clarity.

• Memorandum Establishing the President's Interagency Committee on Export Expansion.
• Message to the Congress Transmitting Annual Report on Occupational Safety and Health.
• Executive Order 11753—Establishing the President's Export Council and for Other Purposes

The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other Presidential documents.

• Federal Register of Thursday, December 20, 1973

The Congressional Record is the official daily record of the debates and proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

• Senate: December 20, 1973
• House of Representatives: December 20, 1973

The National Archives Catalog is the online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records. It is the main way of describing our holdings and also provides access to electronic records and digitized versions of our holdings. 

The Catalog searches across multiple National Archives resources at once, including archival descriptions, digitized and electronic records, authority records, and web pages from Archives.gov and the Presidential Libraries. The Catalog also allows users to contribute to digitized historical records through tagging and transcription.

Nixon Library Holdings

• Text search for December 20, 1973
• Date search for December 20, 1973

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• Text search for December 20, 1973
• Date search for December 20, 1973

The President's Daily Brief is the primary vehicle for summarizing the day-to-day sensitive intelligence and analysis, as well as late-breaking reports, for the White House on current and future national security issues. Read "The President's Daily Brief: Delivering Intelligence to Nixon and Ford" to learn more.

• President's Daily Brief of 20 December 1973

The Foreign Relations of the United States series presents the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. Visit the State Department website for more information.

Vol. X, Vietnam, January 1973-July 1975

Congressional Restrictions, General Warfare, June 19, 1973-February 25, 1975

• 120. Memorandum of Conversation, Paris, December 20, 1973, 9:30-11:55 a.m.; 2:15-4:15 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 27–14 VIET. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the International Conference Center, Avenue Kleber. All brackets except those that indicate omitted material are in the original.

Vol. XXV, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1973

• 410. U.S.–Israeli Memorandum of Understanding, Washington, December 20, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 136, Country Files, Middle East, Dinitz, December 1–31, 1973. Secret. The memorandum is attached to a December 20 transmittal letter from Shalev to Scowcroft which stated that he took pleasure in forwarding two copies of the Memorandum of Understanding, which included the changes agreed upon during the Secretary’s visit to Israel, December 16–17. See Documents 399 and 401.

• 411. Research Study Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Washington, December 20, 1973

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 27 ARAB–ISR. Secret; No Foreign Dissem. Drafted by Jones, Vaccaro, and McAndrew. Cleared by Jones and released by Mark, INR/Near East and South Asia.

• 412. Report Prepared by the Intelligence Community Staff, Washington, December 20, 1973

  Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, Subject Files, Job 83–M00171R, Box 18, Folder 4. Top Secret; Handle Via Byeman–Talent–Keyhole–COMINT Channels Jointly. The report was reviewed by the U.S. Intelligence Board. A note on the title page reads in part: “This is the first of several reports concerning the activities of the Intelligence Community before and during the Arab–Israeli War of October 1973 which will be submitted to the NSCIC by the DCI or his representatives.” A Note on Sources and Methods at the end of the paper explains the methodology used by the “post-mortem team,” which was composed of Intelligence Community staff and officers from CIA, DIA, INR, NSA, and IDA. The note reads in part: “The interpretations of events and judgments of intelligence performance appearing in this report rest on the facts as perceived by the post-mortem team and, unless otherwise indicated, reflect in general (though not necessarily in detail) a preliminary Community-wide view.”

Vol. XXVII, Iran; Iraq, 1973-1976

Iraq, January 1973-December 1974

• 240. Memorandum From the Legal Adviser of the Department of State (Maw) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco), the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs (Armstrong), the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Resources and Food Policy (Katz), and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Finance and Development (Weintraub), Washington, December 20, 1973

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, PET 15–2 IRAQ. Confidential. Drafted by Stephen M. Schwebel (L). Printed from an uninitialed copy with a handwritten note that the original was “sent forward” on December 27.

Vol. XXXVI, Energy Crisis, 1969-1974

October 6, 1973-March 22, 1974

• 268. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Nixon, Washington, December 20, 1973

  Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 139, Country Files, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Nov–Dec 1973. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information. A handwritten notation at the top of the memorandum indicates the President saw it.

• 269. Memorandum of Conversation, Paris, December 20, 1973, noon

  Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, TS 26, Geopolitical Files, France, Chronological File, 19 July–20 Dec 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. The meeting took place at the Elysée Palace. Kissinger also met with Jobert December 19. (Ibid.)

Vol. XXXVIII, Part 2, Organization and Management of Foreign Policy; Public Diplomacy, 1973-1976

Managing the Department of State

• 121. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Ingersoll) to the Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (Habib), Washington, December 20, 1973

  Source: Department of State, Files of Philip C. Habib: Lot 81 D 5, Chiefs of Mission Conference, Dec. 6–8, 1974—Honolulu. Limited Official Use. A handwritten note on the letter indicates that it was received on December 31. Similar letters were sent from Ingersoll to all Ambassadors in the East Asia and Pacific region.

Vol. XLII, Vietnam: The Kissinger-Le Duc Tho Negotiations

Attempting To Implement the Accords, February 1973-December 1973

• 68. Memorandum of Conversation, Paris, December 20, 1973, 9:30-11:55 a.m.; 2:15-4:15 p.m.

  Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 27–14 VIET. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting was held at the International Conference Center, Avenue Kléber. All brackets are in the original.
  
  Kissinger provided Nixon a generally positive report of this meeting. He noted that Le Duc Tho was greatly concerned about “establishing the ceasefire,” although both sides had consistently been in violation of the cease-fire. Kissinger believed the meeting “was significant for this reason alone.” North Vietnamese “behavior and concerns in this meeting,” he continued, “revealed their considerable uncertainty about their military prospects as well. They took seriously, as a ‘threat,’ recent comments by you and other US officials that military action against the DRV could not be excluded if Hanoi launched another offensive.” He concluded for the President: “It is clear that they are even weaker than I believed . . . and it is the GVN that has been gaining territorially in the prolonged fighting.” (Message from Kissinger to President Nixon via Scowcroft, December 21, 1973; National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 127, Kissinger Office Files, Country Files, Far East, Vietnam Negotiations, Camp David, November 1–December 31, 1973)
  
  Kissinger emphasized these points again in a December 28 meeting with Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, Director of Central Intelligence William Colby, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Thomas Moorer, and Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Major General Brent Scowcroft. Kissinger and the group discussed U.S. policy around the world. Regarding his recent meeting with Le Duc Tho and what might happen in Vietnam, Kissinger said: “I think it’s 60–40 against an offensive.” He added: “I told him [Le Duc Tho] we would send him a message in January and maybe we’d meet again—but we wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense. I think he is scared and we should put everything we can into the GVN.” (Memorandum of Conversation, December 28, 1973; Ford Library, Digital Files, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations, 1973–1977)

Vol. E-9, Part 2, Documents on the Middle East Region, 1973-1976

Kuwait and the Gulf States

• 41. Memorandum From the Secretary of the Navy (Warner) to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger, Washington, December 20, 1973

  Summary: Secretary Warner advocated a search for alternative sites for MIDEASTFOR.
  
  Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD Files: FRC 330–78–0001, Middle East 092 (July–December 1973). Secret. Attached but not published are the proposal letter to the Secretary of State and the proposed telegram, the latter of which was not transmitted. The Navy study of alternative sites viewed Iranian ports at Bandar Abbas and Kharg Island as the most desirable. (Washington National Records Center, OASD Files: FRC 330–78–0011, Indian Ocean 323.3 (April–December 1974)) NSSM 110 and minutes of the Senior Review Group meeting discussing it are in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972; Jordan, September 1970, Documents 54 and 58.

The Kissinger telephone conversation transcripts consist of approximately 20,000 pages of transcripts of Kissinger’s telephone conversations during his tenure as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (1969-1974) and Secretary of State (1973-1974) during the administration of President Richard Nixon. Visit the finding aid for more information.

Digitized versions can be found in the National Archives Catalog.

The White House Photo Office collection consists of photographic coverage of President Richard Nixon meeting with prominent social, political, and cultural personalities; speaking engagements and news conferences of the President and various high-ranking members of the White House staff and Cabinet; Presidential domestic and foreign travel, including Presidential vacations; social events and entertainment involving the First Family, including entertainers present; official portraits of the President, First Family, and high-ranking members of the Nixon administration; the 1969 and 1973 Inaugurals; the President’s 1972 Presidential election campaign appearances (including speeches) and other official activities of the White House staff and the President’s Cabinet from January 20, 1969 until August 9, 1974 at the White House and the Old Executive Office Building; other locations in Washington, DC, such as The Mall; and the Presidential retreats in Camp David, Maryland, Key Biscayne, Florida, and San Clemente, California. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

Roll WHPO-E2020 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2020-, President Nixon receives petitions from Mrs. Anna Clinkscales, organizer of a door-to-door campaign in Baltimore, Maryland, to demonstrate support for the President and President of the National Council of Negro Women for the State of Maryland. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon and Mrs. Anna Clinkscales.

Roll WHPO-E2022 Photographer: Knudsen, Robert L. | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2022-, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Alexander Haig and William Simon to discuss energy matters. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, and William E. Simon.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2022-04A, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Alexander Haig and William Simon to discuss energy matters while a photographer takes pictures nearby. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, and William E. Simon, unidentified photographer.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2022-14A, President Nixon seated at his Oval Office desk during a meeting with Alexander Haig and William Simon to discuss energy matters. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, and William E. Simon.

Roll WHPO-E2023 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2023-, Pat Nixon poses with East Wing staff for Christmas holiday picture. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. East Wing, White House. Pat Nixon.

Roll WHPO-E2024 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2024-, President Nixon and Pat Nixon receive members of Congress and their families during a Christmas reception. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. State Floor, White House. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, members of Congress and their families.

Roll WHPO-E2025 Photographer: Kightlinger, Jack | Color or B&W: Color

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2025-02A-04A, President Nixon addresses White House staff during Christmas reception. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. President Nixon, Pat Nixon, White House staff.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2025-05A-06A, Pat Nixon greets members of the President's Commission on Personnel Interchange. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House. Pat Nixon, members of the President's Commission on Personnel Interchange.
• Frame(s): WHPO-E2025-07A-25A, Pat Nixon's East Wing staff gather for Christmas holiday greetings and group photos. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, East Room. Pat Nixon and East Wing staff.

Roll WHPO-E2026 Photographer: Schumacher, Karl | Color or B&W: B&W

• Frame(s): WHPO-E2026-03A-06A, President Nixon meets with Secretary Brennen. 12/20/1973, Washington, D.C. White House, Oval Office. President Nixon and Secretary Brennen.

The White House Communications Agency Sound Recordings Collection contains public statements that took place between 1969 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

P - Formal Presidential Remarks

• WHCA-SR-P-731221
  Photo opportunity with Mrs. Anna Clinkscales. (12/20/1973)
  
  Runtime: 2:10
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

S - White House Press Office Briefings (continuation of the L-series)

• WHCA-SR-S-422
  Press briefing by Gerald Warren. (12/20/1973, White House Press Lobby)
  
  Runtime: 45:00:00
  
  Keywords: Press conferences, news conferences, interviews, media
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by __ (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.
• WHCA-SR-S-423
  Presidential spokesmen briefing by George Shultz. (12/20/1973, EOB Conference Room (450))
  
  Runtime: 1:01:00
  
  Keywords: Briefings, private briefings
  
  Production credits: Audio feed supplied by WHCA; Recorded by __ (initials of WHCA engineer)
  
  Original Format: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audiotape. Original source type: Original.

The White House Communications Agency Videotape Collection contains “off-the-air” recordings of televised programs produced between 1968 and 1974. Visit the finding aid to learn more.

• WHCA-6711
  Weekly News Summary, Tape II.
  ALL NETWORKS
  Runtime: 1:30
  
  9. Smith/Peterson: Gas rationing. Time Code Start: 24:22. Keywords: energy, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: ABC.
  
  10. Miller: Reaction to ten gallon gas limit. Time Code Start: 26:45. Keywords: energy, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: ABC.
  
  11. Smith/Murphy: Off shore oil drilling. Time Code Start: 28:34. Keywords: energy, petroleum, drilling, oil supply, oil supplies, imports, shortages. Network: ABC.
  
  13. Reasoner/Bergman: Airlines make increases. Time Code Start: 31:20. Keywords: businesses, aviation industry, commercial airlines, aircraft, planes, jets, airliners, costs, tickets, prices, travel, increases. Network: ABC.
  
  14. Smith/Clark: Attorney John Doar investigates President Nixon; impeachment interview with Vice President Gerald Ford. Time Code Start: 32:37. Keywords: Vice Presidents, speeches, media, broadcasts, courts, trials, Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: ABC.
  
  15. Smith: Attorney William Dobrovir plays tape. Time Code Start: 35:07. Keywords: bugging, bugs, wiretapping, wire taps, surveillance, spying, recordings, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, scandals. Network: ABC.
  
  16. Reasoner/Kaplow: Secretary of State Kissinger peace talks in Paris. Time Code Start: 35:35. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations, travel, trips. Network: ABC.
  
  17. Smith/Seamans: Geneva Peace Talks. Time Code Start: 37:17. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Switzerland, Arab Israeli war, peace, truce, treaties, negotiations, conferences. Network: ABC.
  
  18. Smith: Commentary on gas rationing. Time Code Start: 41:44. Keywords: energy, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: ABC.
  
  19. Chancellor/Levine: Gas rationing. Time Code Start: 43:20. Keywords: energy, petroleum, oil supply, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: NBC.
  
  20. Neal: 10 gallon gas limit per car. Time Code Start: 45:45. Keywords: automobiles, cars, vehicles, energy, gasoline, gas, oil crisis, energy, petroleum, shortages, rationing. Network: NBC.
  
  21. Chancellor/Valeriani: Secretary of State Kissinger peace talks. Time Code Start: 47:35. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, Paris Peace Talks, Vietnam War, treaty, treaties, negotiations. Network: NBC.
  
  22. Chancellor/Utley: Geneva Peace Talks; film of Middle East. Time Code Start: 48:50. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, Switzerland, Arab Israeli war, peace, truce, treaties, negotiations, conferences. Network: NBC.
  
  23. Burrington: Israel's Prime Minister Golda Meir. Time Code Start: 50:15. Keywords: Middle East, Mideast, war, Israeli, Prime Ministers. Network: NBC.
  
  24. Chancellor: Arab highjackings. Time Code Start: 52:00. Keywords: terrorism, terrorists, Middle East, Mideast, Arab, hijackings, airports, aircraft, airliners, Italian, Italy. Network: NBC.
  
  25. Chancellor: John Dean Internal Revenue Service (IRS) a White House enemy list for 500 tax audits; Treasury Secretary George Shultz told IRS to forget audits. Time Code Start: 53:11. Keywords: advisors, counselor, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, testimony, testify, cover-ups, break-in, burglary, theft, plumbers, scandals. Network: NBC.
  
  26. Chancellor/Nessen: Vice President Gerald Ford's press conference. Time Code Start: 54:03. Keywords: media, press conferences, news conferences, interviews. Network: NBC.
  
  27. Cronkite/Benton: Gas rationing with William Simon. Time Code Start: 55:33. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, energy, petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources, energy. Network: CBS.
  
  28. Drinkwater: Consumer reaction to ten gallon limit. Time Code Start: 57:20. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources, energy. Network: CBS.
  
  29. Cronkite/Schieffer: Cutback on airplane fuel for military. Time Code Start: 58:34. Keywords: Congress, taxes, expenditures, spending, reductions, decreases, Armed Forces, military, aircraft, petroleum, fuels, gas. Network: CBS.
  
  30. Cronkite/Herman: President Nixon and tax returns with Ullman and Senator Proxmire. Time Code Start: 59:46. Keywords: Presidents, taxes, taxation, revenue, income taxes, reports, Congressional, House of Representatives, investigations, Senate, Senators. Network: CBS.
  
  31. Cronkite/Morton: Impeachment of the President committee. Time Code Start: 61:26. Keywords: Presidents, Watergate, Senate committee hearings, investigations, impeachment. Network: CBS.
  
  32. Cronkite/Kalb: Secretary of State Kissinger peace talks. Time Code Start: 63:15. Keywords: cabinet, advisors, Middle East, Mideast, Switzerland, Arab Israeli war, peace, truce, treaties, negotiations, conferences. Network: CBS.
  
  33. Cronkite/Sevareid: Analysis on the energy crisis. Time Code Start: 65:20. Keywords: petroleum, oil, gasoline, fuel, shortages, rationing, natural resources. Network: CBS.
  
  34. Cronkite: Interview with Charles Bebe Rebozo. Time Code Start: 68:18. Keywords: Presidents, friends, banks, executives, Internal Revenue Service, taxes, audits, investigations. Network: CBS.

• New York Times of December 20, 1973

• AP Images photos from December 20, 1973
• Getty Images photos from December 20, 1973

The Vanderbilt Television News Archive is the world's most extensive and complete archive of television news. They have been recording, preserving and providing access to television news broadcasts of the national networks since August 5, 1968.

• December 1973 Broadcast Index

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

• December 20, 1973